Stan BRAKHAGE

(1933-2003)
Nationality: American

Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks.

His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher. ~ Sandra Brennan

80 MOVIES IN DISTRIBUTION

CHINESE SERIES
2003 / 35mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 20 / 25 €
distribution: 16mm
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL
2002 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 22 €
distribution: 16mm
SONG OF THE MUSHROOM
2002 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 00 / 20 €
distribution: 16mm
LOVESONG
2001 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 39 €
distribution: 16mm
LOVESONG 2
2001 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 22 €
distribution: 16mm
BIRDS OF PARADISE
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 22 / 21 €
distribution: 16mm
CRICKET REQUIEM
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 25 €
distribution: 16mm
THE EARTH SONG OF THE CRICKET
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 25 €
distribution: 16mm
THE LION AND THE ZEBRA MAKE GOD'S RAW JEWELS
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 5' 30 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 3
1998 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 15' 00 / 50 €
distribution: 16mm
(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 4
1998 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 20' 00 / 67 €
distribution: 16mm
(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 5
1998 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 15' 00 / 50 €
distribution: 16mm
(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 1 - # 2
1998 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 38' 00 / 128 €
distribution: 16mm
COMMINGLED CONTAINERS
1996 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 €
distribution: 16mm
THE LOST FILMS
1996 / color / silent / single screen / 55' 00 / 184 €
distribution: 16mm
SHOCKINGLY HOT
1996 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 €
distribution: 16mm
I . . .
1995 / color / silent / single screen / 26' 00 / 102 €
distribution: 16mm
BLACK ICE
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 23 €
distribution: 16mm
CANNOT EXIST
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 23 €
distribution: 16mm
CANNOT NOT EXIST
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 10' 00 / 40 €
distribution: 16mm
CHARTRES SERIES
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 9' 00 / 41 €
distribution: 16mm
ELEMENTARY PHRASES
1994 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 35' 00 / 118 €
distribution: 16mm
NAUGHTS
1994 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 5' 30 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
AUTUMNAL
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
EPHEMERAL SOLIDITY
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
THE HARROWING - TRYST HAUNT
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
STELLAR
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 25 €
distribution: 16mm
STUDY IN COLOR AND BLACK AND WHITE
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 1' 36 / 21 €
distribution: 16mm
THREE HOMERICS
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
CRACK GLASS EULOGY
1992 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 7' 00 / 32 €
distribution: 16mm
UNTITLED (FOR MARILYN)
1992 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 48 €
distribution: 16mm
A CHILDS GARDEN AND THE SERIOUS SEA
1991 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 73' 00 / 233 €
distribution: 16mm
CHRIST MASS SEX DANCE
1991 / color / sound / single screen / 6' 00 / 42 €
distribution: 16mm
DELICACIES OF MOLTEN HORROR SYNAPSE
1991 / color / silent / single screen / 10' 00 / 40 €
distribution: 16mm
PASSAGE THROUGH A RITUAL
1990 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 48' 00 / 161 €
distribution: 16mm
VISION OF THE FIRE TREE
1990 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
THE DANTE QUARTET
1987 / 16mm & 35mm / color / silent / single screen / 6' 30 / 42 €
distribution: 16mm
KINDERING
1987 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 2' 52 / 24 €
distribution: 16mm
THE LOOM
1986 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 42' 29 / 163 €
distribution: 16mm
LOUD VISUAL NOISES
1986 / 16mm / color / sound / 2' 30 / 22 €
distribution: 16mm
NIGHT MUSIC
1986 / color / silent / single screen / 0' 30 / 23 €
distribution: 16mm
JANE
1985 / color / silent / single screen / 13' 00 / 50 €
distribution: 16mm
ARABIC NUMERALS : 16
1981 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 30 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS
1981 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 1' 50 / 25 €
distribution: 16mm
MURDER PSALM
1981 / color / silent / single screen / 17' 00 / 67 €
distribution: 16mm
MADE MANIFEST
1980 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 48 €
distribution: 16mm
CREATION
1979 / color / silent / single screen / 16' 00 / 54 €
distribution: 16mm
BURIAL PATH
1978 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 43 €
distribution: 16mm
DOMINION
1974 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 €
distribution: 16mm
STAR GARDEN
1974 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 20' 00 / 85 €
distribution: 16mm
THE STARS ARE BEAUTIFUL
1974 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 18' 30 / 78 €
distribution: 16mm
THE TEXT OF LIGHT
1974 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 70' 00 / 224 €
distribution: 16mm
SEXUAL MEDITATION : OPEN FIELD
1973 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
EYE MYTH- EDUCATIONAL PRINT
1972 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 00 / 25 €
distribution: 16mm
SEXUAL MEDITATIONS: OFFICE SUITE
1972 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 30 / 26 €
distribution: 16mm
THE WOLD-SHADOW
1972 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 25 €
distribution: 16mm
THE ACT OF SEEING WITH ONE'S OWN EYES
1971 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 32' 00 / 110 €
distribution: 16mm
SEXUAL MEDITATIONS: MOTEL
1970 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
THE HORSEMAN WOMAN AND THE MOTH
1968 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 19' 00 / 66 €
distribution: 16mm
MY MOUNTAIN, SONG 27
1968 / color / silent / single screen / 17' 23 / 86 €
distribution: 16mm
SCENES FROM UNDER CHILDHOOD, PART I
1967 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 24' 00 / 88 €
distribution: 16mm
SONG 26
1967 / color / silent / single screen / 7' 00 / 32 €
distribution: 16mm
SONG 16
1966 / color / silent / single screen / 7' 30 / 35 €
distribution: 16mm
SONGS 17 - 18 - 19 - 20
1966 / color / silent / single screen / 18' 00 / 70 €
distribution: 16mm
FIRE OF WATERS
1965 / b&w / sound / single screen / 7' 00 / 32 €
distribution: 16mm
DOG STAR MAN : PART III
1964 / color / silent / single screen / 7' 30 / 35 €
distribution: 16mm
DOG STAR MAN : PART IV
1964 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
DOG STAR MAN : PART II
1963 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 30 / 28 €
distribution: 16mm
MOTHLIGHT
1963 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 €
distribution: 16mm
DOG STAR MAN : PART I
1962 / color / silent / single screen / 30' 00 / 118 €
distribution: 16mm
DOG STAR MAN : PRELUDE
1961 / color / silent / single screen / 25' 00 / 98 €
distribution: 16mm
THIGH LINE LYRE TRIANGULAR
1961 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 9' 00 / 41 €
distribution: 16mm
THE DEAD
1960 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 49 €
distribution: 16mm
SIRIUS REMEMBERED
1959 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 39 €
distribution: 16mm
WINDOW WATER BABY MOVING
1959 / color / silent / single screen / 12' 00 / 54 €
distribution: 16mm
ANTICIPATION OF THE NIGHT
1958 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 41' 00 / 122 €
distribution: 16mm
REFLECTIONS ON BLACK
1955 / b&w / sound / single screen / 12' 00 / 54 €
distribution: 16mm
THE WAY TO SHADOW GARDEN
1955 / 16mm / b&w / sound / single screen / 10' 00 / 45 €
distribution: 16mm
THE WONDER RING
1955 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 €
distribution: 16mm
DESISTFILM
1954 / 16mm / b&w / sound / single screen / 6' 48 / 34 €
distribution: 16mm